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Delivering A Genuine Gardening Experience
Northscaping Talks To gardendwellers Farm
By Jim Kohut, Staff Writer
It’s a momentous occasion as gardendwellers Farm of Churchs Ferry, North Dakota, has unveiled it’s new web site (www.gardendwellersfarm.com) along with some exciting new attractions for visitors. I’ve known the proprietor, Holly Mawby, for a few years now, and her passion and perseverance never cease to amaze me. Their story needs to be told, because it is definitely unique.
The new web site, unveiled March 15th, includes interactive pages such as ‘online learning’ to provide information most frequently asked by visitors. The site also features an online store and photo gallery as well as an up to date blog where customers can keep in touch with day to day happenings at the Farm.
Experience Geocaching And More!
There are a number of new attractions at the Farm to keep visitors and customers actively involved include geocaching, letterboxing, and on-demand learning. ‘Geocaching’ is a modern scavenger hunt for anyone with a GPS. Coordinates for clues are given that lead to a treasure box hidden somewhere on the property. Bet you hadn’t heard of that one before!
Don’t have a GPS? No worries; ‘letterboxing’ is another yet older variety of scavenger hunt. Letterboxing is particularly fun for people involved in the hobby of stamping. Rubber stamps and a log book are carried by the participants, or can be purchased on site. Clues lead participants to a treasure box that contains a log book and a rubber stamp unique to the Farm. Participants use the stamp provided in the treasure box to mark their ‘find’ in their log book. The stamp carried by the ‘hunter’ is used to stamp the gardendwellers Farm log book and in that way mark how many people have discovered the treasure.
The on-demand learning feature at the farm is also exciting. Any visitor at any time has access to a vending machine filled with children’s projects, self guided walking tours, labyrinth walking information and Churchs Ferry historical facts. These tidbits cost between $0.25 and $1.00 USD, so visitors are encouraged to bring their change. The children’s projects are perfect for ages 2 to 16 and are easy, self contained, art projects kids can take home with them as souvenirs of their trip.
Learning-Based Garden Vacations
The new web site also includes ‘Learning Based Vacation’ information. More and more travelers want to do more than just visit; they want to experience! gardendwellers Farm helps travelers become involved in the day-to-day workings of an herb farm through activities that range from harvesting and maintaining the herbs, distillation of hydrosols, caring for perennials or nature crafts. gardendwellers helps their guests customize their visit according to their interests and the amount of time they have to spend. Overnight accommodations can be made at local campgrounds, bed and breakfasts and hotels. Short visits are also encouraged and one to two hour activities are available.
In 2007 gardendwellers Farm added an indoor classroom which has led to an expanded class list at the Farm. The new schedule of classes and events features wine tasting, a garden tour and luncheon, flower pounding for quilters and of course their most popular classes on herb cooking. The new classroom allows for the schedule to go on into October and December with Holiday decorating classes.
The new web site and on-farm activities encourage participation by guests, whether they’re pre-arranged or drop-in, and are an example of how gardendwellers Farm encourages everyone to ‘Come Out And Play’, as they like to say. gardendwellers Farm is open to the public from sun up to sun down Sunday through Saturday. The gardens and activities are best enjoyed from May to the end of September. Modern restroom facilities and picnic area are available on-site. For more information check out the web site at www.gardendwellersfarm.com or you can call the gardendwellers at 701-351-2520.
Fellow Northscapers, these guys are genuine, and are offering something that is rather unique in the northern gardening world - a real-life ‘gardening experience’. If you’re ever around North Dakota, and especially if you live there, you owe it to yourself to stop in and experience their eclectic brand of gardening for yourself. It’s worth the trip!
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